Fishing shows have been a popular TV staple for decades, from Hawaii favorite Bruce Carter and his “Let’s Go Fishing” to the crusty crews of “Wicked Tuna,” who fish the treacherous Outer Banks off North Carolina.

But the Discovery Channel’s new six-part series set in Hawaii, “Pacific Warriors,” hopes to land viewers with a close-up look at the white-knuckle practice of fishing from sea kayaks.

This fishing community paddles to their fishing grounds in plastic kayaks 12 to 16 feet long and 30 inches wide. Although seasoned, confident athletes, it’s not uncommon to be overpowered and dragged for miles by something they’ve hooked. They call that a Hawaiian sleigh ride.

“What we are doing is really dangerous,” said David “Boogie D” Elgas, a 48-year-old Pupukea resident who goes fishing when he’s not running his kayaking tour company.

“The dangers are the currents, the waves, the wind — all those things can suck you out to sea,” he said. “Mother Nature is a danger. We are battling the elements with the human body as the motor.”

And sharks, said Elgas, who once hauled in a 110-pound ulua.

In truth, there are worse things than sharks, he said.

“Whales scare the hell out of me,” Elgas said. “One of my biggest fears is having a whale breach and land on me. I had one breach 10 feet away. It was like a two-story building collapsing in front of me. It had a shock wave.”

The lure for much of this crew is the lucrative fish market. One fresh catch can bring $1,500. Elgas said he can carry up to 250 pounds of fish on his kayak. He typically paddles it back to shore where he will stash it in a locked cooler in his truck, then paddle back out.

“Pacific Warriors” shot in April and May and follows seven teams of sea kayakers as they hunt for the best fishing grounds and avoid the sharks — nicknamed “taxmen” — that nibble at their catch.

One of the show’s stars doesn’t use a pole to catch fish. Kimi Werner, a 35-year-old free diver, will take a single gulp of air and plunge into the ocean to take a shot with her spear gun.

Unlike the show’s other fishermen, Werner doesn’t catch fish to take to market. A strong advocate for sustainability, Werner catches only what she needs and trades with her neighbors, she said.

Werner, who will go as deep as 150 feet underwater, has been fishing like this since she was 5. She grew up on Maui, and her father would carry her in a backpack down cliff trails to the ocean.

“I was his little tag-along,” said Werner, who now lives on Oahu’s North Shore. “I would follow him, and that’s how I learned to swim in deep water and hold my breath. That’s how we got our dinners.”

That depth of experience probably accounts for Werner’s comfort in the ocean, even though she said “the risks are insane.”

She thanks a fish when she kills it. When she sees a shark, panic isn’t part of the experience, she said.

“Just to feel that vulnerable at all times is something you get used to, and you learn to let it heighten your instincts,” she said. “The more you do it, the more you make yourself comfortable with this vulnerability — it’s the most amazing feeling.”

“Pacific Warriors” will premiere Oct. 23 on the Discovery Channel. Consult your local listings for the exact time.

And that’s a wrap …

Mike Gordon is the Star-Advertiser’s film and television writer. Read his Outtakes Online blog at honolulupulse.com. Reach him at 529-4803 or email mgordon@staradvertiser.com.